From Deseret News archives:

Jazz feeling love from national media

Published: Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006 11:04 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
SACRAMENTO — The Jazz's red-hot start has not gone without notice.

ESPN.com, Sportsline.com, SportsIllustrated.com and Yahoo! Sports both have Utah atop their most-recent NBA power rankings, and Jazz players — who take their league-best 10-1 record to Sacramento tonight — seem convinced opponents are aiming to bring them down.

"Teams are going to be gunning for us," point guard Deron Williams said.

"They know they have to play their best game — and we're going to have to learn very fast that we're going to have to be on top of our game every night," guard Derek Fisher added. "When you start to kind of get that bull's-eye on your back, teams are going to — give their best effort."

Not everyone, however, gives the Jazz so much respect.

InsideHoops.com had them second behind San Antonio in its power rankings Tuesday, with this notation: "I doubt Utah will complain about being No. 2."

Story continues below
KIRILENKO, GIRICEK OUT: Both forward Andrei Kirilenko (sprained ankle) and shooting guard Gordan Giricek (Achillies tendinitis) traveled to Sacramento as expected, but the team said Tuesday neither will play tonight.

Kirilenko on Monday had said he might be good to go, but the Jazz apparently do not want to rush him.

Giricek, meanwhile, said he thinks he's close to returning from what so far has been a six-game absence.

"I think I am," he said. "I expect it to hurt a little when I start playing again, but I hope it calms down after a while."

COOL CAR, BAD BACK: Kings starting small forward Ron Artest did not practice Monday due to a sore back, but he did practice Tuesday and is expected to play tonight.

According to the Sacramento Bee, the source of Artest's pain is rather bizarre: "(He) has been driving his wife's Mercedes SL 500 back and forth from their house ... to Arco Arena. The Mercedes had been a gift from Artest to his wife, Kimsha, who decided the car wasn't her style. Thus, her 6-foot-7, 260-pound husband has been cramming his frame into the driver's seat, so much so that his back started giving him fits. The Mercedes is headed for the used-car market."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

i noticed tonight that not only the jazz are wearing green many fans are...

Nutty Putty Cave to be sealed today

I suppose it is closed by now?

Go Huskers. Help those Frogs. TCU is the best team in the country and...

Sweet! MAGIC HAPPENS when you are doing what is right on and off the field....

Brazil got the shaft this year and was put in the group of death. Brazil will...

I don't think Beck or Skousen ever even claimed to be the spokesmen for all...

I have been to at least 8 White House parties. And have worked with the...

Glad this case is over and that she was brought to justice.

Here is what Boise and yes, BYU and Utah fans are forgetting. Each of those...

I am proud of you!! yes, yes yes...... as a univ. full professor, let me...

Advertisements